This was supposed to be the easy part. Or so Andy, and the 12 volumes of Arendelle's Art of War collection he buried himself in, thought. Analyzing the target had long been passed from what Arendellian generals informed him. Casualties had relatively decreased since the Eldorian fleet joined their ranks along with the reclaim of quite a number of ally's lands. There was still the surprise attack that no one could have predicted that caused them to lose a ship, but for the first time in months the Seer Realm was finally meeting the Draguen with an equal hand.

Now, as stated in volume ten section 45, subpart 13 that Andy circled so hard that the page tore, was the time to lay out future options for after the war. Better to have some semblance of plan, then to be more at a loss than you were before, Elias had told Andy when changing his assignments. Despite the slightly condescending tone when he said it, Andy was secretly grateful to not be in the war room anymore. He withstood five meetings before his brother and uncle pulled him aside where Ingvar politely told him, "Either cry yourself dry before meetings or don't bother showing up at all."

To Andy's surprise, Elias met all of Ingvar's stinging remarks with glares and remarks so fierce it made the bickering in the war room look like child's play. Actually, Andy mused, he was surprised that Elias was keeping him so involved at all.

After returning home, Andy was swept into a myriad of meetings and plans so far out of his depth he questioned why he was present. But every general and royal leader of the realm met his innocent inquiries with intense and serious responses. Like he had been working by their sides all along. Like he existed all along. When the answers to his questions began to leave his skin ashen or green, Elias switched tactics and placed him charge of keeping stock of supplies and future plans. Andy had argued at first, saying he could indeed handle it and would "cry himself dry" for now on.

"It may not seem relevant now, but when this is all over people need a new direction," Elias had said. He had moved his hand from Andy's shoulder to the back of his neck, giving a gentle squeeze. Andy had to restrain himself from jumping out of his skin at the gesture Elias hadn't done since they were children. Elias gave him a sheepish smile then, so small and fragile that it made any rebuttal Andy had evaporate instantly. "You're good at new direction. And no matter what the others may say, I need it."

So Andy changed positions without further complaints. Besides, as the books stated, this was the easy part where hope superseded fear. Or, that's what Andy thought before the screaming match began.

Chairs lay on their sides, discarded on the floor along with several papers, while the generals stood around the table barking at one another. The veins in their foreheads bulged hard from scarred and snarled faces, making the men appear more like wolves preparing to fight than the medal decorated men they were. Andy pressed his fingers to his temple, absentmindedly wondering if Elias put him here as a mercy or punishment. After giving him the scare of a life time, Andy figured it was the latter.

"Why should Weselton receive the most aid when they've barely contributed anything to this war?" A Spanish general with a scar running over his eye snapped.

"Because," A Weselton general, a man with a thick beard engulfing his mouth said, "Majority of the supplies sent to the troops have been from us. It only makes sense that we get back what we lost."

"If you want to do something, how about sending more men!"

Andy sighed deeply through his nose. He glanced down at the notes on his corner of the table and frowned. They were making decent progress with plans to rebuild cities and farmland since they designated Arendelle as the emergency supplier with clothing, sails, food, and weaponry, but once water was brought into the discussion, they had sunk into worse arguments than in the war room. Andy felt a headache clawing at the base of his skull when he felt a nudge against his knee.

Marisol sat beside him, her notepad just as bare as his, and flicked her eyes from him to the standing generals. After working side by side for almost six months, Andy recognized the silent question and nodded, mouthing a quiet please. Marisol straightened in her chair and cleared her throat.

"Gentlemen," her voice cut through the arguing like a knife through paper. The men grew silent and she tapped her fingers on the table. "I will kindly remind you that we are discussing the future of the most vulnerable countries. Our present may allow us to get by, but not theirs. It will behoove both of you to remember that so that we may use our time together wisely."

A mix of admiration and jealousy coiled in Andy's stomach as the men gave each other one last glare before seating themselves. Andy shook his head, shaking the heat building in his cheeks away and flipped to a new page of his notes.

"As we were discussing," he said, "we will have to update the trade routes as these events continue to ensure that clean water among other resources can reach the Eastern Isles. The routes should stay the same for the most part, however we will most likely need to redraw the routes through the western countries."

"Your highness," a woman said, "if I may?"

Andy paused as he turned to look in her direction. She wore a fitted dark blue and maroon uniform with bronze lapels on her shoulders. The colors of the Southern Isles, he noted. He blinked hard, skimming the auburn hair pulled back into a tight bun upon her head and green eyes that looked at him patiently. He wracked his brain for a moment, trying to remember where he had seen her before.

"Yes?" he asked, cursing himself on forgetting her name. Had she given a name? The generals and meetings blended together so much, it was almost impossible to remember who was who. and on her.

The woman nodded to him, as if forgiving him for not speaking her name, and leaned over the table. She pointed a gloved finger to west of the map.

"We won't need to entirely reestablish the routes if the future Eldorian land remains open." She flicked her gaze to Marisol. "Without entry, it will take an additional week maybe more depending on the resources being traded to reach other lands. However, if you keep your land open trade will still occur within a week near your closest allies."

Marisol snorted. "Closest allies?"

"Assuming Eldora enters the Seer Realm as an ally," the woman shrugged. "Naturally you'd be granted additional protection and other valuable resources should you be open to your fellows. That is your intention isn't it?"

The bemused expression on Marisol's face melted, dragging her lips and brow into a deep frown. She intertwined her fingers together and leaned over the table.

"That remains to be seen," Marisol said. "My main concern once this is over is transitioning my people back to their homeland safely and reestablish our roots. I am not opposed to trade routes remaining as is, however I do not wish to make any promises for Eldora's future without my king and council to consult with. What you mention shall just be another option to consider."

"Of course," the woman said, sliding back into her chair. "I was only concerned with some of the poorer regions in the west who have suffered and would be unable to access those routes. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Your highness, what was the latest update on the water transport units?"

As Andy flipped through his papers and discussed the change in water units, he chanced a look around the table. While some of the table members were nodding along with his words, many were looking at Marisol. News of Elias' land reclamation had sent more than a shock throughout the allies. Within days of the Eldorians' arrival, Elias had signed a proclamation promising their land returned once the enemy was extinguished. No one dared argue with the king. Nor did they bother attempts of persuasion with his regent. Andy heard heated grumblings here and there during meeting breaks, but Marisol bared the full brunt of the ire.

It was the little things. The bumps in the hall, the hushed slurs, the barked shouts of men the size of three bears. Yet Marisol never took the bait. She kept herself composed like the true queen of the sun. In public that was. Andy had lost count of how many times he had to avoid her wrath when she spoke about wanting to strangle them. Given their deadly glares now, he could tell that another shouting match was brewing. He glanced at Marisol and the thin outline of vein creasing her temple and sighed.

"That will be enough for today," Andy said. "We'll continue this discussion in a fortnight."

The table members nodded to him, gathering their own papers as they streamed out of the room. Two of the generals, Scar and Beard Andy saw, made their around the table towards Marisol. She tensed, gripping the back of her chair tight until Andy cleared his throat.

"Queen Marisol," he said, "I'm still at a loss on our stock for lamb. Would you mind staying behind to go over them with me?"

Marisol flexed her fingers and turned to him. "Of course. Take all the time you need."

The generals forced passive masks on their faces before leaving the room. The moment they did, muted shouts echoed down the hallway. Marisol sagged against the chair with a long sigh.

"You saved my hide," she said.

"Correction," Andy said, gathering his papers into stacks, "I saved their hides. I couldn't tell if you were going to tell them off or if I would find their bodies in the stables tomorrow morning."

"Don't be ridiculous. Their bodies would have been found in the port."

Andy shoved a fist to his mouth, but his laughter escaped in a spluttered snort.

"Alright, true. I should have known better," he said.

Marisol gave him a grin that disappeared as she eyed the growing stacks of papers in Andy's arms. "I do not envy your job in the slightest."

"It's a job," Andy shrugged. "And I'm staying useful. I'm surprised your stack isn't as tall."

"Stock and resources are more Salazer's domain. War and combat are mine. Besides, I'm just here to make sure no one tries to swindle Eldora of her land."

Andy couldn't help wincing despite the lack of fire in her voice. From how she eyed the door and the empty chairs, he knew her words weren't for him. Yet his mind couldn't help but fill her sentence with an unspoken you.

Andy shuffled his papers to one arm and pressed his fingers to his temple. They nearly spasmed under his touch and he groaned.

"You alright?" Marisol asked.

Andy grit his teeth and nodded. "Yeah, just a little headache is all."

Marisol hummed in reply, casting another grimace at the papers. "So, do you really need me for stock count or…"

"Go on," Andy said, "I'm sure the generals are tucked away having another private shouting match by now."

Marisol quickly poked her head out the door, glancing up and down the hall. She sported Andy with a thumbs up before scurrying away. Andy moved to lock up his remaining files behind the desk in the back of the room. He was about to tuck today's recent papers away when his head throbbed again. Eyes watering and the day's discussions echoing in his mind, he skimmed his notes and sucked in a breath. He could formulate a basic plan tonight and run it by through the treasurer and resource leads tomorrow morning. The burning his temples was protest enough to shove everything in the desk and leave.

"You're good at new direction. And no matter what the others may say, I need it."

Andy sighed deeply and tucked the papers, along with a few others, under his arm. You're being useful. You're being useful. Andy told himself as he closed the drawer.

"Your highness?"

Andy jumped out of skin at the voice. He crushed the files to his chest as if they would keep his heart from hammering out of him and looked up. The woman in the Southern Isles uniform stood at the door.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," she said. "I had knocked, but you were so engrossed in your files."

Andy patted his chest, making sure his heart was still there and beating. His shoulders sagged instantly.

"You're fine," he breathed. "You must have been waiting there for quite some time. I'm sorry…" He flushed."I'm so sorry, regent…"

The woman chuckled, a sheepish smile shrugging on her lips. "You flatter me. I would be so lucky to represent my kingdom in such a role. I'm a colonel from the Southern Isles. We met briefly during the strategy sessions when you returned."

Andy wanted to smack himself. Of course he'd seen her before. He had just been too preoccupied not trying to lose his stomach when they discussed new information from interrogations and what they had to do to get said information. Andy silently prayed that in his next life he would be a humble bread maker instead of a monarch.

He ran a hand down his face and side stepped around the desk towards her.

"I am so, so sorry," he said.

"It's alright. I blend into the scenery anyway," she said. At his blanched expression she added, "I'm more quiet in large meetings. It helps to observe and plan rather than speak all at once. Most generals and envoys are more preoccupied with being the loudest in the room rather than making sense. Much like our fellow Wesleton and Spaniard allies showed."

Andy chuckled and the woman whispered, "I think the real envoys that were supposed to join us were devoured by the two of them. That would explain the extra groaning that came from their stomachs."

The laugh that escaped Andy was so loud, he had to clasp a hand over his mouth. But at the woman's pleased expression, he let himself laugh out loud.

"I shouldn't be laughing," he said between chuckles. "If they heard that they would grow even more hysteric."

"We'll take this secret to the grave," she said. She looked him up and down then. "Still working?"

"Well, I figured if I moved some numbers around a little more then I could make a more agreeable plan than the one discussed today. Some quiet might bring more revelations."

"I agree. Do you require assistance bringing about these revelations?"

"Oh, no! I'm good. Perfect. You've been a great help already. I'm sure you'll have much to discuss with your general."

The corner of the woman's mouth twitched. Andy couldn't tell if she was suppressing a frown or searching for words. She shook her head and gave him another smile.

"Yes, of course," she said. "Would you mind if I walk with you to your quiet enclave? I won't bother you further after that. I just need a small break from…well, you know."

Andy returned her desolate look with a smile of his own as he held the door open for her. As he closed the door behind him, she followed him up the hall. "I completely understand," he said. "I don't think anyone would have ever thought we'd be in this situation again."

"Right. It's like a nightmare that never seems to end. I know there will be an end of course. We'll try our best to reach it. But, honestly the worst part-for me at least-is having to see the families of our soldiers."

Andy felt his stomach twist at that. He looked at her closely, noting that among her slender face were pale scars that streaked just below her left eyelid to her cheek and slithered under her collar. They were almost invisible if he didn't look close enough. He suppressed the images of how she acquired them with a shake of his head.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to continue to dampen the mood," she said. "Perhaps we should start over." She held out a hand to him. He took it with his free hand as she bowed her head to him. "Prince Anders."

"Please, call me Andy. It's a pleasure to re-meet you, Colonel-"

"Hanne. Just Hanne is fine."

They continued through the hall as such for another moment. They had passed the library where Andy meant to bring his files to, but he purposefully skipped it twice saying that his destination would only be another hall down. Hanne was interested in anything and everything that wasn't the war. Her talks of what she would be doing right now or where she would go made Andy relax in a way that he hadn't felt in months. It was after walking past the library a third time, he finally started to feel guilty for keeping her.

"I do hate to cut our conversation short," he said, "but I feel like I've kept you hostage long enough."

"Really? I thought I was the one holding you hostage."

"Mutual kidnapping?"Andy shrugged.

Hanne chuckled before gingerly touching the papers he clutched to him. "Are you sure you don't require any help? I'd be more than happy to lend a hand."

"No no, it's fine really. I can-"

He trailed off at the firm grip on his forearm. It was only then Andy noticed how tall Hanne was. She only towered over him by a hair, but it was enough for her eyes to bear into his. He suddenly found himself wanting to wiggle away until she dropped her hand.

"Truth be told," she said, "I haven't been a colonel long. Had it not been for my predecessor's passing I'd probably still be on the home front as a ground soldier. I know how nerve wracking it is to take on new responsibilities at once. If you need help, don't hesitate to take it."

His denials caught in his throat with how intense she stared. His body both yearned to sag against the wall and disappear into the library to drown in his papers. Andy thought he had been faring well given the circumstances, but from how this woman kept him pinned to where he stood he felt his resolve chip ever so slightly. This woman who actually bothered to remember his name and look at him with the same intensity as his brother and uncle. He knew he should have felt grateful. Instead, he looked around the hall as if the walls would offer an escape.

He watched a slew of maids and butlers scurrying further down the hall. They were flurries of bundled cloth, trays, and armor. He was about to return his attention to Hanne when his heart skipped a beat. A mess of golden hair bobbed among the stream of servants and Andy suddenly felt an invisible cord yanking at his body.

"I'm so sorry, perhaps we can work together another time," Andy said. Hanne furrowed her brows at him as he sped down the hall. "I'm sorry!"

He didn't wait to see or hear her reply. Andy threw himself into the hall and raced through the corridor. He nearly tripped and crashed into other servants passing by as he scurried down a series of stairs to the servants' entrance and through the lower halls towards the laundry room. When he reached the bottom of the steps to the where the maids gathered, the maids froze and curtsied. Andy ignored them, scanning the women for the familiar bed of golden locks. He cursed under his breath when he saw no such thing.

"Your highness," a maid said, pausing her folding mid way to look at him. "Can we help you?"

Andy turned to her, nearly toppling her stack of sheets over. He reached out to grab the stack before they fell, further wrinkling his files as he held the stack to him.

"Was there a blonde woman who passed through here? About to my shoulder, brown eyes, tall nose, broad shoulders. Works with reindeer?"

The maid blinked at him quizzically. She tentatively pulled her folded sheets from Andy's grasp and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, your highness. We haven't had anyone like that work with us," she said. "Perhaps she's one of the extra set of hands hired on."

"Do you know when they come in?"

The maid wrinkled her nose. "Most of the extra hands are helping with weaponry, food storage, or other necessary supplementary units. They usually work out in the boat yard or in the village."

Andy's shoulder dropped and he heaved a sigh. He handed the maid the last sheet he clutched to him, giving her an apologetic nod before slinking back into the hall. He kicked the wall and ran a hand through his hair. Andy knew he would be sucked into a whirlwind of responsibilities when he returned. But the responsibility he neglected to cover burned in his pocket. He reached into it, fiddling with the ring as his heart ached.

She probably hated him. And he couldn't blame her. He told himself he would bear the savage storm she had for him and apologize for however long it took until she forgave him. Of course, he couldn't bear any storm unless he could find her. Andy closed his eyes and gently pressed his forehead against the wet stone wall. Hanne's words ghosted his memory and he grit his teeth.

He could fix this. He brought Eldora to the realm and is setting them all towards a future they can live in as prosperously as a war torn kingdom could. He was helping. He was what the realm, Arendelle, and Elias needed. He will fix this.

Andy opened his eyes and stalked back up the stairs with his jaw set, his mind powering through a new plan for the evening. He didn't need sleep anyway.


A/N: Thank you for reading :) See you in the next chapter 3